Sweet Land (2005)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Ali Selim

Writers:

Will Weaver (short story "A Gravestone Made of Wheat") and
Ali Selim (writer)

Release Date:

31 July 2008 (Brazil)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A love story

Plot:

Set in 1920, Inge travels from Germany to rural Minnesota meet the man destined to be her husband. Bureaucracy and social morality cause major complications.

Plot Keywords:

Minnesota | 1920s | Farm | Morality | Citizenship

Awards:

6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Elizabeth Reaser	...	Young Inge
Lois Smith	...	Old Inge
Patrick Heusinger	...	Young Lars
Stephen Pelinski	...	Old Lars
Tim Guinee	...	Young Olaf
Robert Hogan	...	Old Olaf
Alan Cumming	...	Young Frandsen
Paul Sand	...	Old Frandsen
Jodie Markell	...	Donna Torvik
Sage Kermes	...	Mae Torvik
Kirsten Frantzich	...	Lee
Stephen Yoakam	...	Einar Torvik
Karen Landry	...	Rose Torvik
James Cada	...	Minister Thorwald
Debbie DeLisi	...	Sarah Torvik

Also Known As:

Wedding Photo (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for brief partial nudity and mild language.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Norwegian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG | Argentina:Atp | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Dawson, Minnesota, USA

Company:

120dB Films

Trivia:

Elizabeth Reasers’ Norwegian pronunciation was so bad that after Dagbladet (one of Norway's biggest news-papers) stumbled upon this film, they posted a clip from it with the title "What is she trying to say?"

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The film takes place in 1920, however, the Farmall tractor that Brownie is driving is a Farmall "F" series that was not made until 1932.

Quotes:

Brownie: You hungry? hungry?
[rubs stomach]
Inge: I could eat a horse.
Brownie: Well we could find dat.

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather (1972)

gorgeous landscape portrait love story

As a total movie addict, I was very surprised after attending a screening of this film to be so overwhelmed by the quality of the photography and the depth of the acting.

The visual images in this film are simple, yet breathtakingly beautiful in their composition. It is a rare masterpiece with amazing use of time, depth and perspective. The development of the romantic tension between the main characters in the love story was so powerful and yet so subtle, that it was like a fresh breath mint on a cold January morning.

The used of time and flashbacks is amazing, and the editing and pace of the movie is very accomplished for an independent, low budget film. I will not be surprised if I hear about this move at Oscar time.